I know I posted a congrats earlier (maybe I hit the back button). Anyway, as I said earlier, you should get to put that nice Tina grafting knofe to good use now! I am sure you will enjoy the new home!

Well, I downloaded the fire imagry in the area of the house I've bid on and this is what it looked like. I wondered why some of the rows of citrus trees had abruptly stopped and from the fire picture below, I was able to see that there used to be a lot more citrus trees in areas, but they burned in the fire. I wonder if the irrigation is all still there. Some of our plastic storm drains burned over 100 feet underground. It was like a wick in a candle with plenty of air being sucked in through the pipe to feed the fire.




Phillip

What's all this talk about Misery, I mean Muzzra? Your place looks like it has great potential. Your neighbor has palm trees also! You could turn that place into an oasis! I have always had an eye for what it can be, not what something is. I helped my son buy an old farm house that was a mess. Animals were in the house. Windows broke out. Sits on 4 acres. Well it's a nice place now. The walls were coated in yellow from the chain smoker that had lived there. We got all the bad smells out with Kilz, Its like a paint that doesn't let anything bleed through. We pulled the carpet up and painted the floor, walls, everything before putting any surface material back new. Hope the place comes through for you. Back to the KU/MU thing. I was born in KS and have lived in about every small town in southern MO. My dad was a Southern Baptist country preacher. I live now on 20 acres near KCI airport. Little town called Smithville. My businesses are located there. When I get tired of this place I also have a cabin down at the Lake of the Ozarks. (Pictures later). This is my Oasis. I now want to build a combo barn/office/greenhouse/hottubroom/mediaroom, there us guys can spill beer and not get in trouble. I'll start another post on that later. I don't know if there ar others from MO on here but if not, I'll hold up for MO when need be. Phillip good luck on your endeavor.

Well I inspected the groves this evening after work. A lot of the trees were either dead or dying, but out of the 134 citrus' that I counted on the aerial photo, I'd say a good 100 are probably okay. It looks like some variety also. I saw some very small citrus that were smaller than a mandarin, but a little larger than my meiwa kumquats (How big are nagami?). The leaves looked like a kumquat. Anyway, I'm very eager for escrow to close. My wife wanted a juicer for Christmas, but didn't want me to get it for her because we're putting just about everything down for the 20%. I think the juicer will be a family gift this year.

Phillip

With so many trees are you going to sell the fruit? Is there a tax incentive for having a farm or citrus grove? I know there are a lot of citrus enthusiasts, but it seems like there has to be other benefits.

Hope the inspection goes well with very minor problems.

I do hope it goes well. This is a critical step. No hidden problems! I know the grove is an asset but don't let that override a judgement call on the house. I know I don't have to tell you that. The hole place, house and grove are probably going to cost more bucks than you want to get them to your standard.

Wow Phillip- I hope all works out for the new place. I often day dream about buying five acres to grow many of the things I don't have room for. What a small world- I'm from Kansa City, Missour-ah myself. I lived there until six years ago when I moved to Dallas, TX. I have family in NKC, Smithville and N. Mo. I miss being able to grow the hostas, peonies, lilacs and Japanese maples I had there. I go back for Christmas and birthdays.